ST. LOUIS, Mo. – The Kentucky Wesleyan College softball team made its first ever NCAA appearance on Thursday, dropping an 11-1 decision to the Midwest Regional host University of Missouri-St. Louis.  With the loss, the Panthers move to 38-20 on the season.

The No. 1 seed Tritons were quick to take a lead in the first inning, plating five runs off of five hits.  A scoreless second inning would keep UMSL ahead by five heading into the third.

Maddie Dawson got things started for the Panthers, knocking a one-out single through the right side.  Jaylin Tidwell drove in Dawson with a double tucked in the left field line.

UMSL responded with two runs of their own in the bottom of the inning to regain a six-run lead.  The Tritons ended the game in the bottom of the fifth with their second grand slam of the game.

The Panthers tabbed four hits on the day with Meredith Daunhauer, Dawson, Tidwell and Jaclyn Parker each tabbing one.

Autumn Grady suffered her fourth loss of the season, allowing five runs off of five hits in 1.0 innings.  Casey Smith pitched 3.2 innings, allowing six runs off of six hits.

Kentucky Wesleyan will square off against the No. 5 seed Truman State at 2:30 pm CT on Friday in an elimination game.

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